Mountain of Ink

I have few talents in life, one of them being the ability to make something super simple into the most complicated. What can I say, it’s a gift. I use a color-code system when I study to keep different concepts straight in my brain. I usually use 10-11 different colors and use basic black and blue black as neutrals. I decided a while ago that I should use different inks each month for my colors, but to make simple things complicated, I wanted the colors to “go” together instead of just random inks that color. So due to my craziness, you get this-a color palette of 12 inks for each month of the year.

Black Inks

To start off, I’ve only found a few basic black inks I like. I always have one of these inked up.

Sailor Kiwa-guro

Kyo-no-oto #1 Nurebairo

Rohrer and Klingner Sketch Lotte (I like using this one if I’m using any watercolors since it’s water resistant, but it requires higher maintenance since it’s a pigment-based ink).

Waterman Intense Black

Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi

Pelikan Edelstein Onyx

Sailor Jentle Black

January

Robert Oster Thunderstorm

Diamine Chopin

Robert Oster Motor Oil

Diamine Syrah

Robert Oster Dusky Pink

Papier Plume 011

Bungubox Ebisu Gold

Sailor Jentle Tokiwa-matsu

Robert Oster Velvet Storm

Sailor Jentle Blue

Robert Oster Evening Sapphire

Robert Oster Summer Storm

February

Sailor Jentle Blue Black

Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun

Robert Oster Caffe Crema

Diamine Oxblood

Robert Oster Pinky

Diamine Autumn Oak

Kobe #21 Taisanji Yellow

Robert Oster Peppermint

Diamine Cool Green

Robert Oster Carbon Fire

Robert Oster Fire and Ice

Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai

March

Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-kai

Diamine Silver Fox

Monteverde Moonstone

Robert Oster Whisper Red

Papier Plume Garden District Azalea

Robert Oster Peach

Robert Oster Honey Bee

Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin

Robert Oster Pacific Ocean Teal

Diamine Kensington Blue

Robert Oster Grey Seas

Robert Oster Viola

April

Lamy Blue Black

Diamine Silver Fox

Pilot Iroshizuku Ina-ho

Diamine Maroon

Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu

Monteverde Topaz

Private Reserve Buttercup

Robert Oster Sublime

Diamine Soft Mint

Robert Oster School Blue

Robert Oster Torquay

Diamine Amazing Amethyst

May

Aurora Blue Black

Diamine Silver Fox

Robert Oster Marrone Mustard

Sailor Irori

Dobe #30 Oji Cherry

Papier Plume Sazerac

Robert Oster Yellow Sunset

Robert Oster Opal Green

Papier Plume Lake Michigan Summer

Monteverde Sapphire

Robert Oster Australian Sky Blue

Sailor Jentle Fuju-musume

June

Rohrer and Klingner Verdigris

Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-same

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri

Monteverde Ruby

Diamine Coral

Sailor Jentle Apricot

Bungubox Sweet Potato Yellow

Robert Oster Ryde Green

Kaweco Paradise Blue

Robert Oster Blue Sea

Diamine Aqua Blue

Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu

July

Sailor Sei-boku

Diamine Grey

Robert Oster Toffee

Diamine Wild Strawberry

Diamine Flamingo Pink

Diamine Gerbera

Diamine Sunshine Yellow

Diamine Apple Glory

Diamine Marine

Diamine Florida Blue

Lamy Pacific Blue

Waterman Tender Purple

August

Bungubox 4B

Diamine Grey

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri

Robert Oster Clay Red

Lamy Vibrant Pink

Pilot Iroshizuku Yu-yake

Diamine Amber

Monteverde Hope

Robert Oster Tranquility

Papier Plume Calle Real

Robert Oster Blue Water Ice

Akkerman Parkpop Purple

September

Diamine Blue/Black

Diamine Graphite

Diamine Ancient Copper

Sailor Jentle Oku-yama

Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji

Montblanc Lucky Orange

Robert Oster African Gold

Robert Oster Jade

Robert Oster Marine

Monteverde Ocean Noir

Diamine Havasu Turquoise

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-budo

October

Monteverde Blue Black

Robert Oster Graphite

Robert Oster Golden Brown

Robert Oster Astorquiza Rot

Kaweco Ruby Red

Robert Oster Ng Special ‘16

Robert Oster Gold Antiqua

Robert Oster Eucalyptus Leaf

Robert Oster Deep Sea

Diamine Sargasso Sea

Robert Oster Bass Straight

Diamine Grape

November

Robert Oster Blue Black

Montblanc Oyster Grey

Robert Oster Bronze

Robert Oster Maroon 1789

Monteverde Garnet

Robert Oster Terracotta

Robert Oster Gold Antiqua

Robert Oster River of Fire

De Atramentis Mint Turquoise

Diamine Oxford Blue

Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki

Robert Oster Barossa Grape

December

Diamine 1864 Blue Black

Monteverde Smoke Noir

Robert Oster Melon Tea

Robert Oster Australian Shiraz

Robert Oster Cherry Blossom

Monteverde Fireopal

KWZ Old Gold

Diamine Sherwood Green

Sailor Jentle Yama-dori

Diamine Majestic Blue

Sailor Jentle Souten

Monteverde Charoite

From creating these palettes I learned that I really need to find more good yellow and grey inks. It’s hard to find yellow and grey inks that are dark enough to be read easily. Do you use any type of color-coding in your writing? Let me know in the comments below!

Mountain of Ink

Hi, I’m Kelli, and I’m the brain behind Mountain of Ink. I’m a homeschooling mama of three littles, full-time student, aspiring photographer, amateur chef, and lover of all things stationery. I think any day that doesn’t involve learning and playing with ink is a day wasted. On my site you will find fountain pen, ink, and paper reviews, along with stationery bits and bobs along the way. You can find me @mountainofink on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.